IF you could choose anyone to be your parents Ben and Mary Smith would feature high on your list.

Among the families dotted around Worcester this couple have probably had the most children.

At the last count it was 18 since they first took on the role of foster carers six years ago.

It was Mary's idea to take the plunge. Despite already having brought up three children of her own in her first marriage she was keen to offer a home to those not as fortunate as them.

Now the couple are long-term carers for three children aged between seven and 12.

"It was something I wanted to do for a long time," said Mrs Smith.

"I'd already been a mum to three and also a nursery nurse, so I'd worked with children all my adult life. It just felt right for me."

Six years ago they called Worcestershire County Council to talk about joining a team of foster carers.

After completing hundreds of hours of training and having home visits they were successful.

Their first child was a two-year-old boy on an emergency placement. He ended up staying for 10 days.

"It was strange for me because I've never had any children of my own," said Ben. "It was a baptism of fire for both of us.

"We went on from having that emergency placement to having weekend respite care placements where carers have a break."

The respite care progressed into having sibling groups on a regular basis as well as caring for a baby for a year.

"It was then, three years ago, that they asked me how I would feel about giving up work to take on a family of three in the short term," said Mrs Smith, 50.

"We discussed it and said we'd give it a go. Short term can be from six months to two years.

"It was chaotic for the first couple of months."

Three years on and Rebecca, now 12, Abigail, 9 and seven-year-old Justin are still with the Smiths and thriving.

"Justin hadn't been with his sisters for a while and the idea was we look after all three so they could bond," said Ben, 47.

"Now the fostering is indefinite. We could have them until they are 18 plus.

"We had problems to start with, but then there would be."

Taking on the family meant a sacrifice for the Smiths, juggling work and family life meant something had to give. They now give as much time as possible to spending time with the children, as well as investing in their own well-being.

Fostering, as any carer will say, is not as simple as taking the children to school and being there when they get home. It's more demanding and inevitably, a career choice in itself.

"It's a lot of hard work and emotion on both sides from them and us," said Mary.

"But there are rewards and pleasure as well as you see them progress, change and develop.

"It's rewarding but you've got to remember that they are not your children.

"They fit in so well with the rest of the family. They still have contact with their own family as well and that's a very important thing. Their parents are a very important part of their life and you can't brush that under the carpet and pretend they're not there."

Despite not initially wanting a long-term commitment involving teenagers the family decided to accept the challenge of becoming long-term carers for the three children.

"The question was do we want to take them on full-time or not? It wasn't an easy decision to make," said Ben.

Mary was adamant she wouldn't take on teenagers.

"We really didn't want teenagers again," she said.

"It wasn't until we got to the meeting where they wanted an answer and I found myself saying yes. Having said it, it felt so right. You can't describe how I felt having made that commitment.

"It's not just you and the children, but your family too. Although my children weren't living at home any more their feelings had to be taken into account."

The reaction couldn't have been more positive. Mary's eldest daughter, Suzanne, is now considering becoming a foster carer too having had first hand experience.

The Smiths have no regrets about taking the plunge and would recommend fostering to other interested parties.

"Just be prepared," said Ben. "It's been a learning curve. They're well-behaved children but you get your ups and downs. On the whole it's not too bad."

If you want more information about fostering call 0800 0282158.

- The names of the family and foster children have been changed to protect their identities.